Sooners Name Individual Award Winners

By Athletics Communications

University of Oklahoma

APRIL 29, 2014

NORMAN, Okla. - Head coach Santiago Restrepo and his staff announced the Oklahoma volleyball team's individual awards at its annual banquet over the weekend. Recognized were three outgoing senior student-athletes; Sallie McLaurin, Keila Rodriguez and Eden Williams.

A three-time AVCA All-American, McLaurin was honored as the Sooners' 2013 Most Valuable Player. She led the team with a 3.78 kills per set average and finished first in the Big 12 with a .423 hitting percentage. McLaurin earned a unanimous selection to the All-Big 12 First Team and was named the Big 12 Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

The team's Most Improved Player award went to Rodriguez. An outside hitter, that was also a dependable back row player, she averaged 2.45 kills and 3.24 digs per set. Rodriguez totaled a team-leading 11 double-doubles, including a 14-kill, 13-dig effort against Alabama in Oklahoma's NCAA First Round victory. She entered her senior season with just 228 kills and finished with 284 in her senior season alone.

Williams claimed the team's Sooner Award. A co-captain, along with McLaurin, and a four-year starter on the back row, she finished with 947 career digs. Williams began the season as the OU libero before moving back to her role as a defensive specialist. She showed her toughness in a match at Texas Tech, recording 15 digs in three sets of action after sitting out the first due to a dislocated left pinky finger sustained in warmups.

The Sooners, who went 24-8 and reached the NCAA Tournament for a fifth straight season in 2013, also recognized each of its individual award winners throughout the season at the banquet.

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